DUNFERMLINE chairman Ross McArthur has hit out at “ludicrous accusations” made about his club ahead of their Betfred Cup clash with Rangers tonight.

In a strongly-worded statement in response to a story by Celtic Quick News, he confirmed the SFA had contacted the East End Park side after being alerted to an email sent by McArthur and board member Drew Main about the Big Tax Case fallout.

Barry Ferguson lifts the title for Rangers at Ibrox after win over Dunfermline

The response to a fan – forwarded to the governing body – touched on Dunfermline’s administration in 2013 and the reason they decided not to comment publicly on the Supreme Court ruling.

It has also prompted further discussion about the Pars’ visit to Ibrox in 2003 under Jimmy Calderwood which saw them thrashed 6-1 as Alex McLeish’s Gers clinched the title.

McArthur said: “Like most other SPFL Clubs, we were contacted a couple of weeks ago by a number of supporters asking for our club to make a public statement following the review of the recent Rangers Tax Case.

“Myself and my fellow Board members took the decision not to do so, as our business practice since taking over the club from the administrators, has always been not to comment on any matters that do not adversely affect Dunfermline Athletic Football Club today.

“As a club, we still have a lot of bridges to rebuild.

“However, out of courtesy I believe you should always take the time to respond to someone who has written to our club.

Mikel Arteta’s injury-time penalty won the league for Gers over Celtic who’d just suffered heartbreak against Porto in Seville

“Therefore, I liaised with my fellow Board member (and Supporter Liaison Officer), Drew Main and we individually responded to each person who wrote to us.

“Most of the emails we received were from DAFC supporters, some were not.

“In our reply, we tried to be honest as we could and to make the point that we felt it would be entirely hypocritical of us to try and make any mileage by commenting on another Scottish football club, as our own club had itself already brought Scottish football into disrepute, when it went into administration in 2013, and we had to be mindful we were in no position to take the moral high ground.

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“Without spelling that out, clearly if DAFC could not pay its own staff, players, other clubs and HMRC then most reasonable people would understand that you have brought the game into disrepute.

“Last week I was then contacted by the SFA, as one of the recipients of the email had clearly not been satisfied with our reply, or was attempting to create an issue, and had asked our governing body to investigate further.

“I can confirm that the SFA sent me one email, which I fully responded to the same day, explaining that the recipient was either attempting to make mileage in some way, or had taken our reply out of context.

“There has been no further dialogue between DAFC and the SFA.

“I can also confirm that there was never at any time, reference to former managers, other clubs or previous matches – this is totally spurious.”